Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance

Shaquile Dwight Hester, an artist [singer, actor, writer] and ol’ soul, born in Paterson, New Jersey, later relocating to Sumter, South Carolina, has been performing in gospel choirs, concert choirs, show choirs, jazz ensembles, and musicals for most of his life. Though, at the University of South Carolina, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree in Voice, he sang operatic roles, including Bardolph (At the Boar’s Head, 2015), Don Alfonso (Così Fan Tutte, 2015) and Informer #1/Señor/Captain/Croupier (Candide, 2013). Also, He performed his first community theatre role as Little Moe (Five Guys Named Moe, 2014).

While pursuing his master of music in Voice at Jacobs under the tutelage of Dr. Brian Gill, his few small roles and opera choruses at the Jacobs School of Music have included Second Burgess/Opera Chorus (Peter Grimes, 2017), Water/Opera Chorus (Florencia en el Amazonas, 2016), Solo Inmate Three/Opera Chorus (Dead Man Walking, 2015). Outside of Jacobs, he performed the soulful role of Andre in a student-led production of Raunick’s musical, Welcome to College for IU’s First Year Experience Program, which he reprises the summer of 2018. Additionally, he has performed as a soloist with the IU African American Choral Ensemble. Currently, he’s singing with the IU Soul Revue under Professor James Strong. For Shaquile, the intersection of all genres is where he lies. Thus, in the future, he hopes to continually perform Opera, Musical Theatre and write Soul music.